Toilet signalling devices



1955 N. P. FINDLEY, JR 2,72 31 TOILET SIGNALLING DEVICES Filed April 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'k/ l IN VEN TOR. flax/mm P H4012); J?

Oct. 25, 1955 N. P. FINDLEY, JR

TOILET SIGNALLING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1955 m w m United States Patent O TOILET SIGNALLING DEVICES Norman P.- Findley, In, Garden City, N. Y.

Application April 28, 1953, Serial No. 351,678

6 Claims. '(Cl. 11667) This invention relates to toilet signalling devices for training infants.

Heretofore, various toilet signalling devices have been proposed characterized by trip levers disposed in the path ofthe excrement and which, when tripped, serve to actuate the signalling'device. However, such devices have been objectionable because the tripping lever is-a permanent part of the signalling device and must, therefore, be cleaned after each operation. This is a serious objection and aside from the inconvenience, is also unsanitary.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a toilet signal device for training infants wherein the trip is disposable after each use, in the same manner as conventional toilet paper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposable trip adapted to be used in connection with the present apparatus, this trip may be marketed separately, apart from the device itself, in the manner of conventional toilet paper.

It is still another object of the present inventionto provide a toilet signal device of the above type comprising a small toilet seat adapted to be readily connected-above the usual sized toilet seat, a music box being-carried on the undersurface of the small toilet seat and having a trip in operative engagement therewith and forming a rear support for the disposable trip, the latter being supported at its forward edge by depending hooks carried by the small toilet seat.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a toilet signal device for training infants bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efficient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a toilet signal device embodying the features of the present invention, with the toilet seat in a raised position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention adapted to be used with pottys;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the disposable trip forming a part of the present invention, shown alone;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1 and showing the toilet seat in a lowered, operative position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the rear, removable wall carrying the signalling mechanism.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown a toilet bowl 11 of conventional design and provided with the usual bearings 12 in which are rotatably mounted the lateral shaft 13, substantially as illustrated.

2,721,531 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 The usual toilet seat 14 is rotatably mounted on top of bowl 11 by means of fixedly carried bearing members '15 whichrotate on shaft 13.

.posite ends ofclamping elements 19 and 20 are secured *about shaft 13 by means of screws 22 (see Fig. 4).

A hollow housing 23 is integrally formed on the undersurface of seat 18 at the rear of opening 24 provided in the latter.

The housing 23 and seat 18 are preferably formed of plastic although they may be constructed from many other materials such as metal or wood. As shown in Figure l, the seat 18 and housing 23 may be stamped in one operation from complementary halves heat sealed or otherwise sealed along the line 25, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and effecting thereby an economy of cost and labor.

'The front wall 26 of housing 23 extends downwardly from'the undersurface of seat 18 at substantially right angles thereto and is provided at one side with an elongated opening 27.

The bottom of front wall 26 is curved rearwardly as -at'28, joining bottom wall 29. A downwardly and forwardly extending guide 30'is integrally formed along the bottom of housing 23 intermediate portion 28 and bottom wall-'29, for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The rear wall- 31 of housing 23 extends downwardly from the undersurface of seat 18 and is inclined forwardly -of opening 32, as will be obvious.

As shown in Figure 4, a signal mechanism, referred to collectively as39, of conventional design is mounted on the inner face of removable wall 35. The mechanism 39 includes a rotary member 40 constituting a part of a spring motor 41, the motor 41 operating a signal 42 to actuate a music producing element 43, constituting an audible indicator. This will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that other indicators than mechanism 39 may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A bearing 44 is provided and serves to provide a hori zontal pivot for the lever 45, as shown in Figure 6.

The lever 45 has a downwardly offset arm 45a which terminates in a hook 45b. It will be noted that a lever 45 has an upwardly extending portion 45c disposed in the path of rotary member 40. The lever 45 extends forwardly through the opening 27 provided in front wall 26, with the hook 45b thereof terminating above the guard 30.

In order to render the motor 41 operable, a spring winding knob 46 extends exterially of the housing 23 for operative connection to the spring of the motor 41, the knob 46 passing through an opening 47 provided in removable wall 35.

A spring 48 engages the lever 45 and serves to retain the portion 45c thereof normally in operative engagement with the rotary member 40, as shown in Figures 4 and 6.

It will be apparent that the disposition of the portion 450 in the path of rotary member 40 prevents operation of spring motor 41. It will also be apparent that any downward force on the hook 4512 will rotate lever 45 in a counterclockwise direction and rotate portion 45c thereof from the path of rotating member, permitting thereby the operation of spring motor 41 and the associated parts.

A pair of laterally spaced hooks 49 are secured to the undersurface of seat 18 at the forward portion thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

A disposable trip is provided and may consist of elongated strips of toilet-type paper 59 having doubled up lateral ends 51, as shown in Figure 3, the strip 50 and reinforcing border 51 being provided with aligned openings 52.

By means of openings 52, which are laterally spaced at each end, the strip 50 may be disposed in the manner shown in Figure 4, i. e. directly under the central opening 24 of the seat 18, the openings 52 serving to receive the hook 45b at one end and the hooks 49 at the other. It will be noted that the laterally spaced hooks 49 provide a three point support, imparting a lateral stability.

In operation, with the discharge of excrement or urine onto the strip 50, the lever 45 will be moved in a counterclockwise direction to move the portion 450 thereof from the path of the rotating member 40, thereby releasing the spring motor 41 to operate the musical element 43. Thus, the spring motor 41 is released and the musical sig nal is emitted to inform that the toilet has been completed. The strip may then be severed from the hook 45b and hooks 49 and dropped into the bowl 11 in an obviously sanitary manner, the strip 50 thus expended being replaced by a clean, new strip when the mechanism is again used. Thus, the necessity of cleaning a permanently connected trip lever is eliminated, and a more sanitary device is provided.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2, there is shown a modified form of the present invention, wherein a small toilet seat 18a is suitably secured to the open top of potty 53. V

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 is the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 3 through 6, and like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the several views.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A toilet signal device for training infants comprising a toilet seat, a signal device, an actuator for said signal device terminating in a substantially hooked portion, hooked means extending from the other end of said toilet seat and carried by the latter, and a disposable trip supported at each end by said hooked portion of said actuator and said hook means.

2. A toilet signal device for training infants comprising a toilet seat, a signal device carried by said seat, an actuator for the said signal device, a disposable trip supported at one end by said actuator, and means carried by said seat for supporting the other end of said disposable trip.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, said disposable trip consisting of tissue paper pierced at one end by the hooked portion of said actuator and pierced at the other end by said hook means.

4. An infants toilet signal device comprising a toilet seat, a hollow housing secured to the undersurface of said seat, a signal device within said housing, an actuator for said signal device passing through said housing and extending into the toilet zone, a guard for said actuator formed along the bottom of said housing and underlying the bottom of said actuator, a disposable trip supported at one end by the bottom of said actuator and hook means carried by the other end of said seat adapted to support the other end of said disposable trip.

5. A toilet signal device for training infants comprising a toilet seat, a hollow housing carried on the bottom of said seat at the rear thereof, said housing having a removable rear wall, a music box mechanism mounted on said removable rear Wall and including winding means extending therethrough, an actuator for said music box mechanism extending into the toilet zone through the front wall of said housing, spring means for normally retaining said actuator in an operative position to prevent operation of said music box, the lower end of said actuator external of said housing terminating in a substantially hook shaped portion, a guard underlying said hook shaped portion and connected to the bottom of said housing, a pair of laterally spaced hooks secured to the undersurface of said seat at the front portion thereof and a disposable trip supported at its forward end by said hooks and at its rear end by the said hooked portion of said actuator.

6. A toilet signal device comprising a toilet seat, a signal device secured thereon, actuating means for said signal device, disposable trip means extending across the toilet zone and secured at one end to said actuating means and at the other end to said toilet seat.

Cockey Sept. 24, 1918 Simonsen Mar. 30, 1937 

